The GIANTS have kicked off their final pre-season preparations with a win, beating the Swans 7.9 (51) to 5.3 (33) in a match simulation on Friday night.

Youngsters Emily Pease and Zarlie Goldsworthy kicked two goals each, along with veteran Cora Staunton, while Tait Mackrill - playing a new role in the midfield - also hit the scoreboard.

The game was played at Tramways Oval outside the SCG and consisted of four 18-minute quarters.

It was the first match in charge for new coach Cameron Bernasconi, who said he was pleased with his team’s ability to play four quarters of football.

“It was actually a really good fight,” Bernasconi said.

“The Swans came out hot early, as we knew they would because it’s their first game together, but I thought our girls just fought it out until the end.

“It’s a new era at the moment and we want to create winning habits. So yes, it’s a match sim practice game but I was really impressed the girls fought it out and got the job done.”

It was an even opening half with the GIANTS first on the board and leading by two points at quarter time and then four points at the main break.

The GIANTS kicked 2.3 while keeping the Swans scoreless in the third quarter to extend their lead to 19 points at the final break, with the final margin 18 points.

“It’s a new game plan so it’s going to take some time to nail it,” Bernasconi said.

“The fact that statistically we were on top in every stat, we kept the ball in our front half … we missed some easy goals but I think the positive sign is that the game plan is going to give us some more scores.”

Bernasconi was impressed with all his dual goal-kickers, particularly top draftee Goldsworthy who is still commuting to training from Albury as she finishes high school. 

He also pointed to the game of Jas Grierson who held down a key defensive post in the absence of Pepa Randall, who is in her final week of rehab.

“Zarlie Goldsworthy was really good, Emily Pease was probably our best player for the game and Cora’s always good for a couple,” he said.

“I thought Jas Grierson was really good down back. She’s had an unbelievable pre-season and that’s off the back of consistency, so she’s trained really well and played really well."

Randall, Tarni Evans, Jess Doyle and Nicola Barr were amongst the names who missed the match with only Barr (knee) unlikely to be ready for the season opener on August 28.

The GIANTS take on the Western Bulldogs in an official practice match next Saturday before taking the Bulldogs on in round one just two weeks later.

“Obviously we play the ‘Dogs again in round one so you won’t show all your cards but we played 26 or 27 players tonight so we’ll play a smaller side, get used to proper rotations and start to really gel with a side that will look like our round one side.”

The practice match will be held next Saturday at 11:30am at Whitten Oval in Melbourne. The match will be live streamed on the club’s website.

Season seven of the NAB AFLW competition begins in the final week of August with the GIANTS to open their season against the Western Bulldogs at IKON Park on August 28.